Apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill



Aug. 23, 1966 D. GRUBE 3,267,718

APPARATUS FOR FORCING A MANDREL THROUGH A BILLET AND FOR FORCING THE MANDREL AND BILLET INTO A TUBE ROLLING MILL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 30, 1963 D. GRUBE Aug. 23, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 APPARATUS FOR FORCING A MANDREL THROUGH A BILLET AND FOR FORCING THE MANDREL AND BILLET INTO A TUBE ROLLING MILL Filed D667 50, 1963 D. GRUBE 3,267,718 A MANDREL THROUGH A BILLET AND FOR Aug. 23, 1966 APPARATUS FOR FORCING FORCING THE MANDREL AND BILLET INTO A TUBE ROLLING MILL Filed Dec. 30, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 QQ WE United States Patent 3,267,718 APPARATUS FGR FGRCING A MANDREL THROUGH A BILLET AND FOR FORCING THE MANDREL AND BILLET INTO A TUBE ROLLING MILL Dietrich Grube, 43 Ambrosiusring, Ratingen- Tiefenbroicii, Germany Filed Dec. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 334,236 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 29, 1962, Sch 32,535 Claims. (Cl. 72422) This invention relates to metal working apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill.

Heretofore, the piercing of a billet with a mandrel and the feeding of the mandrel and billet to a tube rolling mill has been accomplished by utilizing, either a driven roll table or by the use of a table having idler rolls, together with a driven roller or a chain drive for moving the mandrel and billet. In the prior art apparatus, the mandrel is introduced into the billet through a grease box and when the mandrel has reached a certain position relative to the billet, a holding device for preventing movement of the billet is released and the mandrel and billet are forced into the rolling mill as a unit. These prior art devices utilize a forcing means for the mandrel and a separate forcing means for the billet and in order to obtain the necessary relative position between the mandrel and the billet, it is necessary that the mandrel forcing means be rendered inoperative and the billet forcing means be rendered operative at the exact moment when the desired relative position between the mandrel and billet has been achieved. These prior art devices require synchronized movement of the forcing means for the mandrel, as well as the forcing means for the billet during introduction of the same into the rolling mill and, therefore, it is necessary to provide relatively complex switching or control devices for the mandrel forcing means, the billet forcing means, as well as the billet holding means. These prior art devices have been found to be unduly complex and costly and also, it has been found difficult to obtain satisfactorily uniform operation which will provide a product of uniform quality.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill which is materially simplified when compared to prior art apparatus of this type.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill which permits convenient determination of the relative position between the mandrel and the billet prior to operation of the apparatus and the maintenance of such position during operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill which includes relatively simple mechanical means for permitting adjustment of the relative position between the mandrel and billet and also relatively simple mechanical stop means for preventing movement of the billet during piercing of the same by the mandrel and in which relatively complex and costly electrical or other types of controls are eliminated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. la and 1b are longitudinal sectional views show- 3,267,713 Patented August 23, 1966 ing an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b top plan views of the apparatus shown in FIGS. la and lb;

FIG. 3 a fragmentary side elevational view showing the retractable stop means and operating mechanism associated therewith; and

FIG. 4 a side elevational view showing the relationship between the position of the mandrel and the position of the billet and the manner of determining the same.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a roll table 2 having a plurality of idler rollers I mounted thereon for receiving and supporting a mandrel 3. The rollers 1 may be adjustable as to height in order to properly position the mandrel 3. Disposed in longitudinal alignment with the roll table 2 is a second roll table 5 provided with idler rollers 4 mounted thereon for supporting a billet 6. The rollers 4 may also be mounted for adjustment as to height in order to properly support the billet 6.

A grease box 7 of conventional type may be mounted between the roll tables 2 and 5 in order to lubricate the mandrel 3 during passage thereof through the grease box 7.

A carriage 8 is mounted for movement longitudinally of the roll table 2 on rails '10 and a second carriage is mounted for movement longitudinally of the second roll table 5 on rails 11.

A common drive means for moving the carriage 8 and the carriage 9 is provided in the form of a motor 12 connected to a suitable transmission 13 which in turn is connected to a cable drum 14. Endless cables 15 are fixed to the drum 14 and are trained over pulleys 16 at the rear end of the roll table 5. Releasable clamp means 17 are provided on the carriage 8 for adjustably connecting the same to the cables 15 and obviously movement of the cables 15 in either direction by operation of the motor 12 will result in movement of the carriage 8 on the rails 10 in either direction. A two-part releasable coupling means is provided for releasa-bly connecting the second carriage 9 to the cables 15 and such coupling means includes a spring cushioned part 18 mounted on the second carriage 9 and a second part 19 adjustably fixed on the cables 15. Upon engagement between the coupling parts 18 and 19, the second carriage 9 is coupled to the cables 15 for movement therewith and the coupling parts 18 and 19 may be separated at the desired time by suitable conventional means, not shown.

Suitable conventional mandrel feeding means 20 may be provided for positioning a mandrel on the rolls 1 of the roll table 2 and a similar conventional billet feeding means 21 may be provided for positioning a billet 6 on the rolls 4 of the second roll table 5.

A suitable tube rolling mill 22 of conventional type is disposed adjacent the rear end of the second roll table 5 for receiving a mandrel and billet therefrom in a manner to be later described.

An abutment 23 is provided on the body 24 of the carriage 8 and the abutment 23 serves to engage and move the mandrel 3 upon movement of the carriage 8 toward the mandrel 3. In a similar manner, an abutment 28 is provided on the body 29 of the second carriage 9 and the abutment 23 serves to engage and move the billet 6 upon movement of the second carriage 9 toward the billet 6.

In order to prevent movement of the billet 6 during piercing thereof by the mandrel 3, there may be provided a retractable stop means 25 which may be pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of the second roll table 5 for movement into and out of the path of movement of the billet 6 and the retractable stop means 25 may be operated by the linkage 26 which in turn is actuated by a bar 27 provided with a lug 3t) adjustably mounted thereon and a fixed lug 30'. An ear 3} is provided on the second carriage 9 and as will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 3, upon movement of the car 31 toward the right, the same will engage the adjustable lug 36 to move the bar 27 and actuate the linkage 26 to retract the stop means 25 out of the path of movement of the billet 6. Return movement of the second carriage 9 and ear 31 will result in engagement of the car 31 with the fixed lug 30 which will move'the bar 27 in the opposite direction and operate the linkage as to move the stop means 25 into the path of movement of the billetfi.

The method of determining the position of the mandrel 3 with respect to the billet 6 is shown in FIG. 4 and such relative position is indicated by the distance L which is equal to the distance between the abutment 23 on the carriage 8 and the abutment 23 on the second carriage 9. The distance L is determined by subtracting from the mandrel length L the sum of the billet length L and the distance L by which the mandrel 3 extends beyond the end of the billet 6 and the apparatus may be adjusted to correspond to the desired length L by releasing the clamping means 17 and moving the carriage 8 along the cables 15 to the desired position, after which the clamping means 17 are again engaged with the cable or by releasing the second coupling parts 19 and positioning the same at the desired location on the cables 15.

These adjustments may be accomplished While holding the carriage 8 or the coupling parts 19 stationary and moving the cable 15 and suitable means for visually indicating such movement of the cables 15 may be provided in the form of a suitable gearing 32. connected to the cable drum 14 and to an indicating disk or scale 33 which, in connection with a suitable index 34*, permits convenient determination of the adjustment of the carriage 8 or the coupling parts 19. Also, the distance L may be determined. if desired, by measuring the distance between the clamping means 17 on the carriage 3 and the coupling parts 19.

In operation and assuming that a mandre 3 is positioned on the rollers 1 of the roll table 2 and a billet 6 on the rollers 4 of the roll table 5 and that the retractable stop means 25 is disposed in the path of movement of the billet 6, operation of the cable drum 14 to move the carriage 8 toward the right, as shown in the drawings, will result in engagement of the abutment 23 with the mandrel 3 which will serve to force the same through the grease box 7 and through the billet 6 and upon reaching the desired position with respect to the billet 6, the coupling parts 19 will engage the coupling parts 18 on the carriage 9 which will result in simultaneous movement of the carriage 9 and carriage 3, whereupon the car 31 on the carriage 9 will engage the lug 30 to move the stop means 25 out of the path of movement of the billet 6 and engagement of the abutment 28 on the carriage 9 with the billet 6 will result in forcing both the mandrel 3 and billet 6 into the tube rolling mill 22. After completing the movement of. the mandrel 3 and billet 6 into the rolling mill 22, the cable drum 14 is operated in the opposite direction to return the carriages 8 and 9 to original position which, of course, will result in engagement of the ear 31 with the lug 3%? to move the stop means 25 into the path of movement of the next subsequent billet 6 and at this time, the apparatus is in condition for a subsequent operation.

It will be obvious that by the above described invention there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly efficient apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rollin mill, which apparatus may be conveniently adjusted to provide the desired relationship between 4. the position of the mandrel and the position of the billet and to maintain such relative positions during operation of the apparatus.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forcing a mandrel through a billet and for forcing the mandrel and billet into a tube rolling mill, said apparatus comprising a roll table for supporting a mandrel, a second roll table in alignment with said first roll table for supporting a billet, a first carriage having an abument for engaging said mandrel, a second carriage having an abutment for engaging said billet and a common drive means for moving said carriages to engage and move said mandrel and billet on said roll tables and into the rolling mill.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which coupling means is provided for connecting and disconnecting said second carriage and said drive means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which means is provided for adjusting the relative position of said first carriage and a portion of said coupling means to adjust the relative position of said carriages and as a consequence, the relative positions of said mandrel and billet.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said common drive means comprises a motor driven cable drum disposed at the forward end of said first roll table, a pulley at the rear end of said second roll table and an endless cable fixed to said drum and trained over said pulley.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which means is provided for connecting said first carriage to said cable, a two-part coupling means, one of said parts being mounted on said second carriage and the second of said parts being fixed to said cable, said coupling means providing a releasable connection between said second carriage and said cable.

a. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said one part includes springcushioning means.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the means for connecting said first carriage to said cable includes means for permitting adjustment of the position of said first carriage along said cable to provide an infinite adjustment of the relative position between said first and second carriages.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said second part includes means for permitting adjustment of said second part along said cable to provide an infinite adjustment of the relative position between said first and second carriages.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which an indicating device is operatively connected to said cable drum to indicate the movement of said cable with respect to said first carriage during adjustment of the position of said first carriage along said cable.

1%. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which a retractable stop means is provided adjacent the rear end of said second roll cable, linkage means for moving said stop means into and out of the path of movement of said billet, an actuating bar connected to said linkage means, a fixed lug on said bar, an adjusting lug on said bar and an ear mounted on said second carriage for engaging said lugs, whereby with said stop means disposed in the path of movement of said billet, movement of said billet will be prevented during forcing of said mandrel through said billet, and upon forcing movement of said second carriage said ear will engage said adjustable lug to retract .said stop means and permit movement of said mandrel and billet itno a tube rolling mill and upon return movement of said second carriage said ear will engage said fixed 2,024,514 12/ 1935 Diescher 72208 Hatebur 72267 Kirchner 72450 Jackson 72427 Coe 72--25O CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR FORCING A MANDREL THROUGH A BILLET AND FOR FORCING THE MANDREL AND BILLET INTO A TUBE ROLLING MILL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROLL TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A MANDREL, A SECOND ROLL TABLE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST ROLL TABLE FOR SUPPORTING A BILLET, A FIRST CARRIAGE HAVING AN ABUMENT FOR ENGAGING SAID MANDREL, A SECOND CARRIAGE HAVING AN ABUTMENT FOR ENGAGING SAID BILLET AND A COMMON DRIVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGES TO ENGAGE AND MOVE SAID MANDREL AND BILLET ON SAID ROLL TABLES AND INTO THE ROLLING MILL. 